Animal-trap



(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E; s. HOTGHKISS.

ANIMAL TRAP.

No. 355,017. PatefitedDeo. 28, 1886.

2 Sheets-Shet 2 (MpdeLj E. s. HOTGHKISS. ANIMAL TRAP.

No. 355,017. Patented Dec. 28, 1886.

PETEHSuPhMo LRnographor, wnhin mn. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC I EDWVARD S. HOTGHKISS, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,017, dated December 28, 1886.

Application filed July 27, 1886. Serial No. 209,269. (Modell To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. HOTOHKISS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal- Traps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the My invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in the construction of animal-traps, and has for its object to provide an exceedingly powerful and effective trap, and at the same time to render the setting of the trap perfectly automatic and absolutely free from any danger; and with these ends in view my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter fully set forth, and then specifically designated by the claims. 7

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may more fully understand its construction andoperation, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specifica tion, in which Figure l is a perspective, showing the relative position of the several parts when the trap is not set; Fig. 2, a similar view, showing the relative position of the several parts when the trap is set; and I ig. 3, a view in perspective, showing the trap folded and the manner of setting the same.

Similar letters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

My improved trap is composed of two sections, A B, hinged together, one within the other, by means of a pintle, G.

D is a bow, made preferably from springwire, the inner portions of which are formed into coil-springs E. These springs, in their proper assembled position, surround the pintle, and their free ends F abut against the section A, which causes the bow to lie flat in its normal position against the section B. It will thus be readily understood that the action of the spring will strongly resist the folding of the sections.

G is the bait-trigger, pivoted to the section A, between ears H, which project from said section. This trigger is adapted to swing freely from its pivotal point, and hangs vertically in its normal position. The upper extremity of the trigger is formed into a hook,

I, which latter and the further extremity of the bow are both equidistant from the pintle, so that it is obvious that when the sections are folded the bow and hook will engage, as will be presently explained.

' In setting the trap the sections A B are folded together against the resistance of the spring, thereby causing the bow to engage with the hook, as seen at Fig. 3, and to be securely held thereby against the resistance of the spring when the sections are unfolded, as seen at Fig. 2'. The bait is placed on the lower extremity of the trigger, and any pull or disturbance of the trigger will cause the hook to release the how, when the latter will descend with great force. In traps of this description especially designed for the extermination of rats, the force with which the bow descends is sufficient to kill the rat outright.

By the use of my improvement the greatest objection to animal-traps is done away withnamely, the difficulty experienced in setting them, as well as the danger attendant thereon.

I am aware that animal traps have been made in two sections hinged together, and adapted to fold against the actionof a spring, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as laying claim to any-such construction, broadly; but

What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an animal-trap of the character described, a bait-trigger pivoted to theupright section and having at its upper extremity a hook adapted when the sections are folded to automatically engage with the bow and hold the same-against its spring action, substantially as set forth.

2. In an animal-trap, the two sections, one

upright and the other horizontal, hinged together by a pintle, in combination with a coilspring around said pintle and having formed integral therewith an outwardly-projecting bow, said bowand the free ends of the spring bearing against the horizontal and upright sections, respectively, and the bait-trigger pivoted between ears projecting from the upright section and having its upper extremity formed into a said bow and hold the same against its spring hook, saidihook and the further extremity of action, substantially as and for the purpose the bow being both equidistantfrom the-pinspecified.

file, whereby when the sections are folded said In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in 5 book and how will engage, substantially as presence of two witnesses.

shown and specified. q 3. In an animal-trap, the combination, with EDWARD HODOHKIS a springactuated bow, of a pivoted bait-trig- Witnesses:

gel having its upper extremity formed into a S. H. HUBBARD,

10 book adapted to automatically engage with S. S. WILLIAMSON. 

